Doriel Inez Larrier

Educator Evaluation Review Task Force was created to overhaul teacher evaluation in New Jersey Acting New Jersey Gov. Tahesha Way last Friday signed legislation that creates the New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force. The law also suspends the collection of new student growth objective (SGO) data for tenured teachers with existing SGOs for the 2024-25 school year. That legislation has been a top priority for NJEA members as they seek relief from the onerous requirements of the current evaluation system, including very time-consuming SGOs that most New Jersey teachers agree provide little or no helpful data. The task force created by this new law will examine the educator evaluation process, including the use of SGOs and other parts of the TEACHNJ Act. The task force is charged with recommending changes to the educator evaluation system by September 2024. NJEA’s officers, President Sean M. Spiller, Vice President Steve Beatty, and Secretary-Treasurer Petal Robertson, released this statement about the bill: “We commend Gov. Murphy, Lt. Gov. Way, and legislative leaders for their support of this very important work. By halting the collection of SGO data for tenured teachers in the coming year, they have sent a message that they understand our current evaluation system needs drastic change. “New Jersey schools are facing a staffing crisis that is hurting our students. While many factors contribute to that crisis, we know that frustration with onerous bureaucratic paperwork is a leading cause of burnout. “New Jersey educators are among the best in the world at what we do, as evidenced by the fact that our schools are consistently ranked the best in the nation. However, the unreasonable and time-consuming paperwork requirements of our current evaluation system pull teachers away from more important and productive work. That doesn’t benefit anyone. “We call on members of the task force to look very closely at how much time teachers are spending trying to prove that they are doing their jobs instead of being able to do their jobs. New Jersey needs an evaluation system that respects the professional expertise of educators and that supports continued professional learning and growth. The current system, with its mountains of paperwork that do not contribute to more effective teaching and learning, is not just frustrating but is harmful. “We look forward to working with other stakeholders throughout this process to develop an evaluation system that supports teachers, benefits students, and nurtures a better working and learning environment for everyone.”

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A bit more about BloomBoard and how we help school districts with on-the-job teacher prep and advancement.

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As the #schoolleader for #lehmanhighschool Young Adult Borough Center (YABC), we are steadfast in our commitment to redefine success narratives for our students. This Career Week, we doubled down on our mission to arm our students not only with academic knowledge but also with the practical skills necessary for thriving in a professional environment. #CareerWeek at Lehman YABC is more than just a series of events; it’s a crucial part of our strategy to equip students with the tools they need for life after #HighSchool . We believe that true education extends beyond traditional learning. It’s about preparing our students for #realworld challenges and opportunities. This week, our students engaged in hands-on activities that included building their resumes, understanding the nuances of professional attire, and participating in mock interviews. These activities are essential. A well-crafted #resume opens doors. Knowledge of professional attire adds a layer of confidence. Effective interview skills can be the difference between obtaining a job or missing an opportunity. We ensure our students learn these skills, practice them, and understand their value. We are also changing the daily habits of our students. By incorporating dress codes that encourage style and professionalism, we help our young men and women not only look but also feel the part of budding professionals. Our young men are required to wear a shirt and tie, and our young #Queens , collared shirts. This isn’t about enforcing a uniform; it’s about instilling a sense of style, professionalism, and self-respect. We have to change the narrative and encourage our students to continue to break barriers and build futures. #StudentSuccess #Empowerment #LehmanYABC #FutureLeaders #AllWeDoIsWin for our #scholars At #lehmanYABC We remain #vigilant about #Empowering Our #Students #smallhornestyle #smallhornemindset #shoutout to Edwin Berroa MPS, M.Ed for returning to #empower our #YoungKings “Your zip code does not determine your destiny”- Martin GE Smallhorne

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The Early Advantage: An Inflection Point for Expanding High-Quality Early Learning If you care about quality early learning, this post honors the hard work of: National Head Start Association, Children's Defense Fund, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Alliance for Early Success, PBS Kids, First Five Years Fund, Save the Children US, Council for a Strong America, Common Sense Media, Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, Sesame Workshop, New America, Too Small to Fail, Clinton Foundation, Global Family Research Project, New Profit, Valhalla Foundation, Overdeck Family Foundation Making the Case: An article by Education Trust’s #Haley Steed captures it well: The United States stands on the cusp of achieving universal access to high-quality early learning. Thanks to the tireless efforts of advocates and educators, the President's 2025 budget expands free, high-quality early learning options that are crucial for lifelong success. Reliable, high-quality, and affordable child care enables parents to secure their finances, advance their careers, and maintain consistent employment. Meanwhile, children enjoy the advantages of early childhood programs that foster healthy development and offer valuable social interactions with peers. Hopeful Direction: As a result of field-building and advocacy, The White House -President Office’s 2025 budget proposes substantial investments in quality early learning: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): $544 million increase for Head Start, Inc., up to $12.54 billion.  $500 million increase for Child Care Block Grants, up to $8.52 billion.  $1.76 billion for the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and Human Development (NICHD) U.S. Department of Education $25 million increase for pilot efforts to expand free, high-quality preschool in school and community-based settings, including Head Start. $200 million increase for Title I, including funds to expand preschool access.  $31 million for #Ready to Learn makes awards to public telecommunications entities that support the development and distribution of educational video programming for preschool and elementary school children  $80 million to provide affordable child care to low-income student parents. Thanks to The Education Trust (including Denise Forte, Amber Arellano, Arlen Benjamin-Gomez, Augustus Mays, Christopher J. Nellum, Allison Socol, Ph.D., William Rodick, PhD, Ph.D.) for your leadership. Questions: How might emerging technologies and solutions support the expansion of quality early learning? Age of Learning, Khan Academy, BrainPOP, Noggin, Teachstone, Sprig Learning, SoapBox Labs, FableVision Learning, What are your hopes and concerns for the future of early learning initiatives? How do we help make the President's 2025 budget a legacy of your important work?

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Check out the latest in classical education news & articles: #classicaleducation #education #liberalarts

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Discover what today’s educators worldwide are saying about barriers to student success, AI in education, and more in the 2024 McGraw Hill Education Insights Report: Learning Outcomes and the Digital Classroom.

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To truly personalize learning, K‒12 teachers need the right data and resources. Learn about how to best connect assessment data to personalized instruction here.

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Professional development that is tailored to fit the needs of your teachers will provide them with the tools they need to level up their teaching. You can start with these three steps: align PD with core values, access PD early and often, and reflect and perfect your offerings. Learn more about personalizing your PD opportunities. ⬇️⬇️

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There are many misconceptions about charter schools out there! This post is putting out facts about charters. Had to share!

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To truly personalize learning, K‒12 teachers need the right data and resources. Learn about how to best connect assessment data to personalized instruction here.

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#WhereisDrV Newark, NJ Trick Words aren’t tricky anymore when you use a multi sensory approach! The mastery of these words allow students to achieve greater reading and writing fluency. #Wilsonlanguage #structuredliteracy #firstgrade #Level1 #trickwords #Fundations

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As facilitators of Learning, teachers need to build the capacity to transition from Theory into meaningful Practice. Teacher Training must therefore use Authentic Contexts to help unpack the theories. Let us continue to have honest conversations about this.

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